HP Cabinet paves way for privatisation of hydro power projects above 5 MW

The company had challenged the decision in the Supreme Court,which has issued notices to the government. The power department had recently mooted a proposal to invite fresh bids for the project,which was turned down by the government.

The Cabinet,in another decision,instituted a new award scheme to popularise rainwater harvesting in the state and motivate NGOs,panchayats and other bodies to join the campaign.

“It has been decided to introduce CM’s Rainwater Harvesting Award in this sector. All NGOs,gram panchayats,urban local bodies,institutions,corporate sector and individuals can get themselves actively involved in the adoption of innovative practices for groundwater recharge programme,rooftop rainwater harvesting and artificial recharge. People’s participation in creating mass awareness in all water harvesting related issues will be stressed. The first prize will consist of Rs 1 lakh,while the second prize winner will get a cash prize of Rs 75,000. There will be two third prizes of Rs 50,000 each,besides three awards of Rs 25,000 each at the zonal level. The total number of prizes will be 12,” said an official spokesperson.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal presided over the meeting.

Faced with serious controversies on new private universities,the government decided to constitute a high-level committee under the chairmanship of Education Minister Ishwar Dass Dhiman to examine a draft bill to set up a regulatory commission for the private universities that have mushroomed in the last few years. More than eight universities have already become functional,some of them without the necessary infrastructure,while an equal number of them are in the pipeline.

Other members of the committee are Horticulture Minister Narender Bragta,Health Minister Rajiv Bindal,Officer on Special Duty (CS-desingated) Rajwant Sandhu,Additional Chief Secretary Avay Shukla,Principal Secretary (Finance) Ajay Tyagi,Principal Secretary (Health) P C Dhiman and Principal Secretary (Education) Dr Srikant Baldi.

Assembly session from August 17
The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet decided on Monday to recommend to Speaker Tulsi Ram to convene a seven-day Monsoon Session of the Assembly from August 17 to 23. There will be,however,only four or five sittings.